HUNDREDS of jobs have been saved at Ashford’s Batchelors factory following a shock announcement from Premier Foods.

The food giants now plan to create a further 95 new jobs at the Kennington Road site at Willesborough, which has been home to the famous Cup-a-Soup for almost 40 years.

Premier Foods had originally planned to close the Ashford factory in bid to become more cost effective, putting 195 jobs under threat, and a consultation with the GMB, Britain’s General Union, began at the end of January.

GMB organiser Brian Skipper said: "Obviously we are delighted that the facility will be kept open and delighted that it will increase the number of people who are working there. I have been told it will be the largest dry-mix factory in Europe."

Premier reconsidered its plans to close the Ashford factory following the acquisition of flour giants RHM (Rank Hovis McDougall) in March.

The company plans to expand five sites, including Batchelors. Robert Schofield, chief executive of Premier Foods, said: "We are proposing this restructure to deliver optimum use of available space and equipment and to provide our business with considerable cost savings which can be used to support our great portfolio of brands."

Six smaller factories are now set to close as part of the restructure.